Prospects Men lose at Surrey United

Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men suffered their second straight defeat to Surrey United after a 3-1 setback on Tuesday evening.

Cloverdale Athletic Park was the venue for this midweek Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Division encounter, with Bart Choufour's youngsters looking to finally get in the win column this season.

With Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson in attendance, the Whitecaps applied lots of high pressure on the undefeated PCSL leaders, with the Prospects playing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Despite showing lots of energy with their style of play, it was home side Surrey that took the lead midway through the first half, as Whitecaps goalkeeper Michael Branion-Calles failed to deal with a cross into the Prospects box. The loose ball fell for United's Rizal Ganief to tap home for 1-0.

Ganief then struck his second goal of the game moments later, as he hit a first-time strike past Branion-Calles following a Surrey cross from the right, as United took a two-goal lead into the halftime break.

Following some encouraging words from Choufour and Thordarson to the young Whitecaps players, the Prospects were the far better side in the second half.

Their higher tempo of play resulted in as many as 10 corners being award to the visitors, while Harry Lakhan had the pick of the Whitecaps opportunities, but his well-struck effort brought an equally fine save from the United goalkeeper.

Though the Prospects had much of the play after the restart, Surrey remained a threat on the counter-attack. It was from such a sequence that United ensured a seventh straight win of the season with a third goal - courtesy of Lucas Barrett.

Though a result was out of reach at this stage, the Whitecaps scored a consolation goal with ten minutes remaining, as Ben Hemphill converted Flo Liu's cross from the right at close range.

Defeat drops the Whitecaps to a record of 0-6-0 in the PCSL Premier Division. Next up for Choufour's young side is an away encounter with Khalsa Sporting Club on Sunday afternoon. Surrey United, meanwhile, face a top of the table clash on Vancouver Island, as they visit Victoria United at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday.
Whitecaps Prospects Men - starting line-up v Surrey United
Michael Branion-Calles; Ashley Ankiewicz, Branden McLean, Ben Hemphill, Flo Liu; Lawrence Buchan, Riley Newport, Nat Blaiklock; Gavin Barrett, Ian Clark, Jordan Casoli